WEBVTT LIFE IN PRISON.. POLICE SAY A KEY TO CUTTING CRIME, IS CRACKING DOWN ON GANGS. GANGS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM IN NEW MEXICO ... AND LAND A LOT OF CRIMINALS IN PRISON. KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER ALANA GRIMSTAD EXPLAINS WHAT'S HAPPENING TO GANG MEMBERS BEHIND BARS, TO TRY AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER. BEING A GANG MEMBER MAY BE PART OF THE REASON THEY ENDED UP IN PRISON. People in their lives influencing them in the wrong way. GETTING AWAY FROM THAT GANG MAY BE PART OF THE REASON THEY GET OUT. Then they're less likely to make the poor, selfish decisions that got them through those prison gates to begin with. OFFICIALS AT THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ARE WORKING WITH VIOLENT CRIMINALS ON A NEW PROGRAM. IF THEY DENOUNCE THEIR GANG AFFILIATIONS, THEY'VE GOT A SHOT AT LEAVING SEGREGATION... You're basically sitting there costing taxpayers. AND BECOMING PART OF THE GENERAL INMATE POPULATION. DOZENS OF CONVICTS ARE JUMPING AT THE CHANCE. Begins to open up a greater amount of opportunities for inmates to be more active and more productive. THIS IS VIDEO TAKEN BY CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS, SHOWING SEVERAL INMATES MAKE THE TRANSITION. THESE OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN IN SEGREGATION FOR YEARS AND AFTER RIGOROUS THERAPY AND COACHING, CAN NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER, ATTEND CLASSES, GET A JOB, GO TO REHAB AND VISIT WITH THEIR FAMILIES. This program is about the safety of our neighborhoods. The corrections secretary says this program means when inmates are released, our neighborhoods will be safer and filled with fewer gangs. 96 percent of the people in our prisons right now as we talk are coming back to our communities, whether we like it or not. IN SANTA FE, ALANA GRIMSTAD KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. THE SECRETARY SAYS ABOUT 65 INMATES ARE IN THE PROGRAM, WITH ANOTHER DOZEN GOING THROUGH THE SCREENING PROCESS. HE SAYS IT'S TOO NEW TO KNOW JUST HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS. TODAY THE PRESIDENT SIGNED INTO LAW, A BILL THAT WILL HELP VETERANS. THE 16 BILLION DOLLAR VETERANS